Your odds of bringing home unwanted guests from a grassy stroll are increasing.

Ticks are on the rise and with them, the Lyme disease they can transmit.

“Ticks like deer and mice and dogs — wherever they can get blood,” says Sandra Smith, an entomologist and professor of forest health at the University of Toronto.

About 20 people report Lyme disease to Toronto Public Health each year, though most acquire it outside the city. You can get Lyme disease if you’re bitten by an infected black-legged tick and it stays attached for longer than 24 hours.

Ticks are more abundant in grassy, woodsy areas and proliferate on animals of all sizes. Natural areas provide the best breeding ground, Smith says. They are hard to catch, as they crawl and have painless bites.

“You don’t feel them and they can even crawl down socks,” Smith says.

So how can you protect yourself? Try these five tips on to prevent — and identify — Lyme disease.

Cover up when out walking, particularly in grassy or forest areas. Try to have as little exposed skin as possible: tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.

Use bug repellent or wear clothes with built-in tick repellent.

Do a tick-check with a buddy after being in a high-risk area. Have someone look everywhere you can’t see yourself — through your hair and behind the ears. Check dogs thoroughly as well.

Remove any ticks on your skin. They look like poppy seeds and can be taken out with pointy tweezers, much like a splinter.

Be aware of Lyme disease symptoms, which include a circular rash, fever and chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue. Seek medical treatment immediately if you suspect Lyme disease, Smith says, as it’s generally easier to treat if you catch it early.

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